Collapsible tube caps



1955 l. R. ALDRIDGE 2,726,796

COLLAPSIBLE TUBE CAPS Filed April 21, 1953 IN V EN TOR. IRA ROY .41. BRIDGE 4 T OR/V5 Y United States Patent O COLLAPSIBLE TUBE CAPS Ira Roy Aldridge, National City, Calif. Application April 21, 1953, Serial No. 350,201

6 Claims. (Cl. 222-545) My invention relates to collapsible tube caps, more particularly to a hinged closing cap, to be substituted for the conventional cap of the conventional tooth paste or shaving cream tube and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a cap of this class that may be quickly substituted for the original conventional cap for collapsable tubes.

Second, to provide a cap of this class with a hinged top easily opened for removal of limited quantities of the contents of the tube.

Third, to provide a means of this class for closing the opening from the tube with the closing of the top or hinged portion of the cap.

Fourth, to provide a cap of this class with a ball-like top so that it may be readily hung up with the tube sup-.

ported thereby.

Fifth, to provide a cap of this class that will prevent leakage when not in use.

Sixth, to provide a cap of this class in which the-com tents of the tube will not dry out or thicken'because of exposure to the air.

Seventh, to provide a cap of this class which may easily be made of plastic material throughout, and

Eighth, to provide a cap of this class which is very simple and economical of construction, easy to operate, easy to install on the tube, efiicient in its action, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will hereinafter be described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this specification in which: i

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of my cap in position on a conventional tube with the cap closed and sealed and showing by dash lines a bifurcated support for said cap and tube. 4

Fig. 2 is a sectional View of the cap taken from a .line 2- 2 of Fig. 1 and showing the tube fragmentarily, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken from the line 33 of Fig. 2.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings.

The tube connection shank member 1, semi-spherical supporting member 2, paste conducting tube member 3, brace members 4, cover member 5, sealing member 6, hinge member 7, and latch member 8, constitute the principal parts and portions of my collapsible tube cap.

The tube connection shank member 1 is relatively heavy and provided with a tapered lower edge In to conform with the taper of the tube, and it is provided with internal threads 1b which conform with the threads on the conventional tube. It is provided near its upper por tion with a reduced portion which is adapted to receive a hook or bifurcated member as shown by dash line in Fig. 1 of the drawings for supporting the cap and tube when not in use. Extending upwardly from this reduced portion 10 is a further reduced semispherical cover supporting member 2.

Mounted centrally in the shank member 1 and extending upwardly is the paste conducting tube 3, and this tube 3 is provided at its longer lower end with a flanged portion 3a which conforms with an angular recessed portion of the shank member 1. This tube is supported at its upper end in connection with the member 2 by means of a plurality of braces 4 to support it rigidly at its upper end, while it is supported at its lower end in the shank member 1. Pivoted to the member 2 at one side is the cover member 5 which is semi-spherical and arranged to fit when closed, the upper edge of the semi-spherical member 2.

, It will be here noted that the cap throughout is preferably made of plastic material and the edge portion of the member 5 is formed of relatively soft yieldable plastic material so that the hinge member 7 which is shaped as shown best in the drawings with a groove intermediate its sides which is arranged to fit and receive the conforming ridge So on the member 5 which is extended inwardly which is shown best in Fig. 3, it being noted that the material is yieldable enough to permit the forcing of the member 7 into the yieldable portion of the member 5 past the lugs 5a and when in position the material will form a hinge and permit the opening of the member 5 by hinging on the hinge 7, and the edges of the member 5 being yieldable enough is provided with a latch groove portion 8 which fits over a conforming ridge portion around the upper side edge of the member 2 so that themember 5 may be latched onto the member 2 nearly around the edge of saidmember 2. This member 5 is provided with a circular recess in which is mounted a sealing member 6 which is very yieldable, preferably of sponge rubber arranged to form a seal on the top end of the tube while member 6 is provided with extended portion 6a which fits down around the upper edge of the tube.

The operation of my collapsible tube cap is substantially as follows:

The conventional cap is removed from the tube and replaced by the shank portions 1 of my tube cap, secured tightly in position thereon so that there is no leakage. When -it is desired to use the contents of the tube covermemberS is loosened by finger pressure against the portion 8 which is yieldable enough to permit the members to be hinged at the hinged portion 7. The hinged portion 7 is yieldable enough to permit the raising of the member 5 to position shown by dash line in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Then the proper quantity of paste or other material from the tube may be pressed through the tube 3 out through its outlet end, and the material scraped from-the tube so that the upper end is straight and smooth. Then the cover 5 is relatched by means of the latch 8 so that the yieldable sealing member 6 forms a tight seal on the top end of the tube member 3. This provides a spherical top member through which it may be hung in position by reason of the reduced portion 10 of the member 1.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination, and arrangement of parts and portion, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination, and arrangement, but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination, and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a collapsible tube cap, the combination of a hollow 3 shank member provided with internal threads at its lower end, arranged to fit on a conventional collapsible tube after the cap has been removed, a hollow semi-spherical member in integral relation therein, extending upwardly therefrom to form a rounded surface to engage a forked support, a tubular paste conductor secured centrally at its lower end and extending upwardly thereof one half the tubular paste conductor length above its substantial mid-' support, a tubular paste conductor secured centrally at its lower end and extending upwardly thereof one half the tubular paste conductor length above its substantial middle, a semi-spherical cover member with a recess centrally in its upper side arranged to fit on the upper edge of said semi-spherical member and hinged at one side thereof and arranged to engage the upper end of said tubular paste conductor, and a sealing member positioned in said recess in said semi-spherical cover member at the center portion thereof arranged to engage the upper end of said paste conducting member. 7

3. In a collapsible tube cap, the combination of a hollow shank member provided with internal threads at its lower end, arranged to fit on a conventionalcollapsible tube after the caprhas been removed, a hollow semi-spherical member in integral relation therein, extending upwardly therefrom to form a rounded surface to engage a forked support, a tubular paste conductor secured centrally at its lower end and extending upwardly thereof one half the tubular paste conductor length above its substantial middle, a semi-spherical cover member with a recess centrally in its upper side arranged to fit on the upper edge of said semi-spherical member and hinged at one side thereof and arranged to engage the upper end of said tubular paste conductor, and diagonal braces secured in the upper edge of said first-mentioned hollow semi-spherical member and secured near the upper 'end of said tubular paste conductor.

4. In a collapsible tube cap, the combination of a hollow shank member provided with internal threads at its lower end, arranged to fit on a conventional collapsible tube after the cap has been removed, a hollow semi-spherical member in integral relation therein, extending upwardly therefrom to, form a rounded surface to engage a forked support, a tubular 'paste conductor secured centrally at its lower end and extending upwardly thereof one half the tubular paste conductor length above its substantial middle, a semi-spherical cover member with a recess cen-- trally in its upper side arranged to fit on the upper edge of said semi-spherical member and hinged at one side thereof and arranged to engage the upper end of said tubular paste conductor, diagonal braces secured in the upper edge of said first-mentioned hollow semi-spherical member and secured near the upper end of said tubular paste conductor, and latch means arranged to latch said cover member on the upper edge of said semi-spherical supporting member.

5. In a collapsible tube cap, the combination of a hollow shank member provided with internal threads at its lower end, arranged to fit on aconventional collapsible tube after the cap has been removed, a hollow semispherical member in integral relation therein, extending upwardly therefrom to form a rounded surface to engage a forked support, a tubular paste conductor secured cen- 1 trally at its lower end and extending upwardly thereof one half the tubular paste conductor length above its substantial middle, a semi-spherical cover member with a recess centrally in its upper side arranged to fit on the upper edge of said semi-spherical member and hinged at one side thereof and arranged to engage the upper end of said tubular paste conductor, diagonal braces secured in the upper edge of said first-mentioned hollow semi-spherical member and secured near the upperend of said tubu lar paste conductor, latch means arranged to latch said cover member on the upper edge of said semi-spherical supporting member, and hinge means at opposite sides of said semi-sphericalmembers arranged to secure said cover member upon the upper edge of said semi-spherical member.

6. In a collapsible tube cap, the combination of a hollow shank member provided with internal threads at its lower end, arranged to fit on a conventional collapsible tube afterthe cap has been removed, a hollow semi-spherical member in integral relation therein, extending upwardly therefrom to form a rounded surface to engage a forked support, a tubular paste conductor secured centrally at its lower end and extending upwardly thereof one half the tubular paste conductor length above its substantial middle, a semi-spherical cover member with a recess centrally in its upper side arranged to fit on the upper edge of said semi-spherical member and hinged at one side thereof and arranged to engage the upper end of said tubular paste conductor, diagonal braces secured in the upper edge of said first-mentioned hollow semi-spherical member and secured near the upper end of said tubular paste conductor, .latch means arranged to latch said covermember on the upper edge of said semi-spherical supporting member, .hinge means at opposite sides of said semi-spherical supporting members arranged to secure said cover member upon the upper edge of said semi-spherical member,

said hinge and latch means formed by the inherent yieldability of the material in said cover member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,495,884 Beyers Ian. 31, 1950 

